What is the Google AI Overview?
In early 2024, Google quietly rolled out its AI-generated overviews to a wider audience. By mid-2025, it has become one of the most prominent features of the search engine results page (SERP). These overviews appear above the traditional blue links and summarize content using AI to answer user queries directly.
For businesses in Dubai trying to stand out online, getting featured in these AI Overviews can mean the difference between being discovered—or being ignored.
Why Should Dubai-Based Businesses Care?
Dubai is a fast-paced, digital-first market. Consumers here often make decisions in seconds. If your business appears in the AI Overview, you’re not just on Page 1—you’re at the top, in a conversational summary that users are more likely to trust.
Real estate, tourism, eCommerce, hospitality, legal services—no matter your industry, this placement can increase clicks and authority like never before.
Who Gets Featured in AI Overviews?
Google’s AI Overview doesn’t create content from thin air. It pulls from websites that meet very specific criteria:
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Authoritative and credible
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Clear and structured content
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Consistent SEO hygiene (meta tags, schema markup)
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Recent updates and fresh content
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Language that directly answers user queries
Let’s break that down into actionable steps you can take.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Featured in Google AI Overviews
1. Focus on Real-World Questions
AI Overviews are designed to summarize answers to real questions people type into Google.
What to do:
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Use tools like AnswerThePublic, AlsoAsked, and Google’s “People Also Ask” section
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Focus on long-tail questions specific to your niche in Dubai
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Include these as headers (H2 or H3) in your content
Example:
Instead of writing “Best Real Estate Advice,” use “How to Buy an Off-Plan Property in Dubai Without Risk?”
2. Write Like a Human, Not a Marketer
AI Overviews favor content that is clear, direct, and human-sounding. Avoid keyword stuffing and robotic SEO phrasing.
What to do:
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Use natural, local language
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Avoid “generic” phrases like “world-class solutions” or “industry-leading”
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Speak to the reader as if you’re having a coffee with them at Jumeirah Beach
Real Example:
Our client, a boutique fitness studio in Dubai Marina, rewrote their FAQ page using simple, honest language. Within 3 weeks, they were featured in the AI overview for “Best pilates class for back pain in Dubai.”
3. Structure Content with H2s, H3s, and Lists
AI loves structure. The more organized your content, the more scannable it becomes—for both readers and Google.
Checklist:
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Use H2s for major topics
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Use H3s for subpoints or examples
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Break things into bullet points or tables where needed
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Keep paragraphs short (2–3 lines max)
4. Use Schema Markup
Schema tells Google what your content means, not just what it says. This is essential for AI to understand context.
Key Schema Types to Use:
| Schema Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FAQPage | For answering common questions |
| HowTo | For step-by-step instructions |
| LocalBusiness | To show you’re a legit Dubai-based firm |
| Review/Rating | For services, products, or listings |
Pro Tip:
Use Google’s Rich Results Test Tool to check if your page is eligible.
5. Keep Content Fresh & Locally Relevant
AI overviews are updated frequently. If your blog is older than 6 months and hasn’t been touched, you’re likely out of the loop.
How to Stay Fresh:
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Update existing blog posts every 3–4 months
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Add Dubai-specific stats, laws, or seasonal changes
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Mention recent trends or events (e.g., Dubai Shopping Festival)
Case Study: A Dubai-Based Law Firm
Client: A commercial law firm in DIFC
Goal: Increase visibility for the query “How to start a business in Dubai Free Zone”
Approach:
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We created a blog post titled “Step-by-Step Guide to Opening a Business in Dubai Free Zones [2025 Update]”
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Used H2s for each legal requirement
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Added schema and FAQ at the end
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Answered real user queries from Reddit and Quora
Result:
Within 30 days, Google’s AI Overview featured a summary from our client’s page, including a direct link. Organic traffic to the blog rose by 212%.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Try to Manipulate AI
Google’s AI is smart, but it’s still learning. Sites that try to game the system with fake content, unnatural keyword stuffing, or auto-generated copy get excluded fast.
Be honest. Be helpful. Write for people first, not bots.
Conclusion: Dubai Businesses, This is Your Moment
Whether you’re a wellness brand in JLT, a real estate agent in Downtown, or an eCommerce seller in Sharjah, the opportunity to own the top of Google’s search page has never been more attainable.
Ready to rewrite your content strategy for 2025?
At White Sand Digital, we’ve helped dozens of UAE-based businesses restructure their content, boost their authority, and land a spot in AI-generated summaries.